CAE CAE Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CAE candidate is writing a proposal. What is the main purpose of a proposal?
- To narrate a past event in detail
- To suggest a plan of action and persuade the reader to accept it (Correct answer)
- To summarise research findings neutrally
- To describe a personal experience creatively
Correct answer: To suggest a plan of action and persuade the reader to accept it
A proposal recommends a course of action, justifies it with reasoning, and aims to persuade the reader (e.g., a manager or committee) to approve it.
Question 2: Which register is appropriate for a CAE letter of application?
- Informal and chatty
- Neutral and conversational
- Formal and professional (Correct answer)
- Humorous and light-hearted
Correct answer: Formal and professional
Letters of application must use formal, professional language since they are addressed to potential employers or organisations.
Question 3: What does 'coherence' mean in the context of CAE Writing assessment?
- Using a wide range of complex vocabulary
- Ideas being logically connected and easy to follow (Correct answer)
- Correct spelling and punctuation throughout
- Meeting the exact word count requirement
Correct answer: Ideas being logically connected and easy to follow
Coherence refers to how logically ideas are sequenced and connected across a piece of writing, making it easy for the reader to follow.
Question 4: In CAE Writing, 'range' refers to which of the following?
- The number of paragraphs used
- The variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures (Correct answer)
- Keeping within the word limit
- Addressing all points in the task
Correct answer: The variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures
Examiners assess 'range' by looking at the variety and sophistication of both vocabulary choices and grammatical structures used.
Question 5: When should a CAE writer use a neutral register?
- Writing to a close friend
- Writing a formal complaint to a company
- Writing an article for a general-interest magazine (Correct answer)
- Writing minutes of a board meeting
Correct answer: Writing an article for a general-interest magazine
A general-interest magazine article targets a broad public audience and therefore suits a neutral, accessible register rather than formal or informal extremes.
Question 6: Which sentence best demonstrates the use of a passive voice appropriate for a formal report?
- We found that sales dropped sharply in Q3.
- Sales were found to have dropped sharply in Q3. (Correct answer)
- I noticed sales dropping really fast in Q3.
- Sales just kind of dropped in Q3, we think.
Correct answer: Sales were found to have dropped sharply in Q3.
The passive voice ('were found') removes personal reference and creates the impersonal, objective tone expected in formal reports.
CAE CAE Writing 2
A CAE candidate is writing a proposal.
What is the main purpose of a proposal?